Eviscerating device



1965 J, F. BASHAM ETAL 3,203,663

EVISCERATING DEVICE Filed May 6, 1963 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,203,653 EVISCERA'ITNG DEVICE James F. Basham, 453 West View Drive, Joseph E. Wages, 118 Indiana Ave., and Guy T. Reid, 110 Sherwood Drive, all of Athens, Ga.

Filed May 6, 1963, Ser. No. 278,061 3 Claims. (CL 2'51--25) This invention relates to an eviscerating device and especially to an improved device for eviscerating fowl and the like. In the use of a vacuum gun and the like for evisceratmg fowl, it is important that the vacuum be applied by the gun under the close control of the operator. If the vacuum is exerted before the nozzle of the vacuum gun is properly positioned within the body cavity of the fowl, portions of the body of the fowl may be bruised or otherwise damaged. If the vacuum is applied later than desired, the eviscerating operation is slowed down. An inadequate suction exerted upon the fowl may result in clogging and jamming of the vacuum gun. Heretofore, devices of this kind have used linkage mechanisms operated by various type triggering mechanisms. Because straight line motion is not afforded responsive to actuation of the linkage by the trigger mechanism, it has been impossible to construct the valve mechanism of closely fitting parts resutling in excessive clogging of the parts with the viscera of the fowl. With such devices cleaning is exceedingly difficult which makes for unsanitary con ditions.

Accordingly, it is an important object of this invention to provide an eviscerating device having a valve mechanism which may be closely controlled by the operator.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an eviscerating device actuated by the vacuum normally employed which will be capable of easy cleaning.

Another object of the invention is to provide an eviscerating device in which the valve mechanism is easily operated without the use of linkage mechanism so as to avoid binding and clogging of the parts.

, The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an eviscerating device constructed in accordance with the present invention,

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional View of the eviscerating device illustrated in FIGURE 1 with the parts in normal position preparatory to an eviscerating operation and,

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view similar to FIGURE 2 with the trigger mechanism in operating position to carry out an eviscerating operation after the nozzle of the device is properly positioned within the body cavity of the fowl.

The drawing illustrates a vacuum operated device for eviscerating fowl having a housing A carried by a handle B. A nozzle C is also carried by the housing. A substantially straight passageway E is formed within the housing and connected portions of the nozzle and vacuum hose. The improvement generally includes a valve and operating mechanism for normally closing the passageway and for opening the passageway when desired responsive to actuation by the operator. This comprises a cylinder F which communicates with the passageway E, and is carried by the housing substantially at right angles to the passageway. A piston G is carried within the cylinder, having a portion H conforming to the passageway on the end "ice thereof adjacent the passageway. An enlarged portion J, remote from the portion conforming to the passageway, is carried by the other end thereof. A trigger K is carried adjacent the handle. A first normally open port L in the cylinder normally maintains atmospheric pressure on the enlarged portion of the piston thus maintaining the passageway closed. A second normally closed port M is opened by actuation of the trigger thus connecting the enlarged portion of the piston to the vacuum hose. Means N carried by the trigger closes said first port and opens said second port when the trigger is actuated. Means P vents the cylinder so that the piston may be raised responsive to the vacuum in the hose.

The housing A is preferably cast of some lightweight material such as aluminum or plastic. The handle B is illustrated as being cast integral with the housing A. The housing A includes an upper cylindrical portion 10 which has the longitudinal passageway E passing therethrough. The housing also has a lower substantially cylindrical portion 11 integral with the portion 10 which houses the trigger mechanism K. The handle B is joined integrally at the lower portion of the lower cylindrical portion 11, and has front and rear faces 12 and 13 respectively, conforming to the hand of the operator. The openings 14 are provided in order to make the vacuum gun lighter, and provide a better gripping surface for the operator.

The nozzle C includes a substantially straight elongated portion 15 having a pressed fit within a countersunk portion 15a in the upper cylindrical portion 10 of the housing A. A downturned portion 16 of the nozzle C depends from the elongated portion 15 so as to be easily inserted within the body cavity of the fowl. The portions 15 and 16 of the nozzle C are of course tubular and form a condonation of the substantially straight passageway E referred to above. The vacuum hose D is connected to the opposite open end of the upper cylindrical portion 10 of the housing A by a clamping mechanism 17. A screw threaded means 17a securely fastens same to a tubular member 18, which has a pressed fit within the upper portion 10 of the housing A. A countersunk portion 18a is provided within the housing A for accommodating the tubular portion 18.

The substantially straight passageway E includes a shoulder portion 19 formed between the countersunk portions 15a and 18a, and it is this portion of the passageway in which the valve mechanism for closing the passageway E is preferably located. It will be noted that it is important that the passageway E have as few obstructions as possible, since it is especially important that this passageway be cleaned so as to remove completely the viscera of the fowl which have been dressed.

A cylinder housing F is positioned upon the upper cylindrical portion 10 of the housing A above the annular shoulder 19 so as to open as at 26 into the passageway E. The cylinder is preferably integral with the upper portion of the cylindrical portion 10 of the housing A, and includes an upper plate 21, which is fastened thereto as by suitable fastening means in the form of screws 21a fastened to the substantially cylindrical side portions 22. The cylinder includes a bore 23 which carries the piston G, the upward movement of which is limited by a depending member 24 carried by the cover 21. The piston G includes a cylindrical wall 25 defining a hollow elongated cavity 26 therein, into which the depending portion 24 extends. The lower portion H of the cylinder conforms substantially to the cross section of the elongated passageway E, so that when the piston G is depressed as illustrated in FIGURE 2, the passageway E is effectively blocked cit. The upper enlarged portion 3' of the piston G includes a flange 27 which slides within the bore 23 within the cylinder F.

The trigger mechanism K includes an index portion 28 which is carried by a cylindrical portion 29. The cylindrical portion or piston 29 is carried within the bore or cylinder 38, and carries a rod 31 for operating valve mechanism described below. A passageway L includes a port 32 within the housing which communicates with the bore 30. The bore communicates with an annular channel 33 passing upwardly into the cylinder as at 34 where the passage portion 34 communicates through a port 35 with the cylinder F above the enlarged portion J of the piston. It will be observed in FIGURE 2 that the passageway L is normally open to atmospheric pressure so that the upper portion of the piston I is subjected to atmospheric pressure while the lower portion at least partially to the vacuum obtaining in the line B so as to maintain same in closed position blocking off the passageway E.

A second normally closed port or passageway M extends from the bore 39 within the rear portion of the lower cylindrical portion 11 of the housing A into the tubular member 18 thus communicating with the passageway E. This second port is normally blocked off by the cylindrical member N carried by the rod 31. The spring 36 normally biases the member N and the entire trigger mechanism K to the left in FIGURE 2, so as to maintain the second port M normally closed so that the first port L may not be subjected to the vacuum obtaining in the hose 11. A back plate member 37 confines the spring within the bore 30, and is fastened to the housing portion 11 by screws as illustrated at 38. A port 39 is provided for relieving the pressure in the bore 30 when the trigger mechanism is closed against the spring 36 as illustrated in FIGURE 3.

The means P is in the form of a port or vent within the cylinder walls 23 so as to maintain atmospheric pres sure on the lower portion of the flange 27 to maintain the cylinder G in raised position during operation of the eviscerating device. It is evident that the differential in pressure between the enlarged upper portion J and the lower portion H is sufiicient to maintain the piston G in raised position when the trigger mechanism is actuated. Thus, valve means operated by a pressure differential created by the vacuum of the device is provided to simplify and place the operation of the vacuum gun under the effective control of the operator.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vacuum operated device for eviscerating fowl and the like having a nozzle, and a connection between the housing and a vacuum hose wherein a substantially unobstructed passageway is formed between the nozzle and vacuum hose connection, the improvement comprising a housing defining said passageway, a valve and operating mechanism for the valve for normally closing the passageway and for opening the passageway when desired responsive to actuation of the operator including, a cylinder carried within the housing communicating with the passageway within the housing, a piston carried within the cylinder, said piston having a portion conforming to the passageway on the end thereof adjacent the passageway, an enlarged portion carried by the piston remote from the portion conforming to the passageway, a first normally open port normally maintaining atmospheric pressure on the enlarged portion of the piston thus maintaining the passageway closed, a second port normally closed connecting the enlarged portion of the piston to the vacuum hose when the second port is open, manually operable means for closing said first port and opening said second port, and means venting the cylinder so that the piston may be raised.

2. In a vacuum operated device for eviscerating fowl and the like having a handle, a nozzle, and a connection with the vacuum hose wherein a substantially straight passageway is formed between portions of the nozzle and a vacuum hose connection, the improvement comprising a housing defining said passageway, a valve and operating mechanism for the valve for normally closing the passageway and for opening the passageway when desired responsive to actuation by the operator including, a cylinder communicating with the passageway carried by the housing substantially at right angles to the passageway, a piston carried within the cylinder, a portion conforming to the passageway on one end of the piston communicating with the passageway, an enlarged portion carried by the piston adjacent the other end thereof, a trigger carried adjacent the handle, a first normally open port in said cylinder normally maintaining atmospheric pressure on the enlarged portion of the piston thus maintaining the passageway closed, a second normally closed port connecting the enlarged portion of the piston to the vacuum hose, means carried by the trigger for closing said first port and opening said second port when the trigger is actuated, and means venting the cylinder so that the piston may be raised.

3. In a vacuum operated device for eviscerating fowl and the like having a nozzle and a vacuum hose connection, the improvement comprising, a housing intermediate the nozzle and the vacuum hose connection, a substantially straight passageway within the housing between said nozzle and said vacuum hose connection, a piston having a passageway portion and a chamber portion and carried within the housing substantially at right angles to the passageway, said passageway portion of said piston conforming to said passageway and normally extending into the passageway closing same, said chamber portion having a pressure surface, an opposed surface of said piston open to atmosphere at all times, and a manually operated valve means for subjecting said pressure surface of the piston remote from the passageway to the vacuum in the hose or to atmospheric pressure.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,627,873 2/53 Bothe 251-25 2,745,626 5/56 Wilson 25125 3,116,513 1/64 Inc l711 M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner. 

3. IN A VACUUM OPERATED DEVICE FOR EVISCERATING FOWL AND THE LIKE HAVING A NOZZLE AND A VACUUM HOSE CONNECTING, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING, A HOUSING INTERMEDIATE THE NOZZLE AND THE VACUUM HOSE CONNECTION, A SUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHT PASSAGEWAY WITHIN THE HOUSING BETWEEN SAID NOZZLE AND SAID VACUUM HOSE CONNECTION, A PISTON HAVING A PASSAGEWAY PORTION AND A CHAMBER PORTION AND CARRIED WITHIN THE HOUSING SUBSTANTIALLY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE PASSAGEWAY, SAID PASSAGEWAY PORTION OF SAID PISTON CONFORMING TO SAID PASSAGEWAY AND NORMALLY EX- 